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Pierre Gauvreau
Cybele, 1978
Acrylic on canvas
22″ x 24″
Artist Origin: Canadian
Artist Type: Historical works of significance / Automatiste / Painter and broadcaster
Born: August 23, 1922, Montreal, Quebec
Died: April 7, 2011, Montreal, Quebec
Pierre Gauvreau was a Canadian painter and a pivotal figure in the Automatistes movement. A signatory of the landmark Refus Global manifesto (1948), he embraced artistic freedom and radical experimentation alongside Paul-Émile Borduas, Riopelle, Barbeau, and Françoise Sullivan.
Beyond painting, Gauvreau had a unique career as a television and radio producer at Radio-Canada, where he introduced avant-garde ideas to a broader public, bridging visual arts and mass culture. His work often blended lyrical abstraction with vibrant colors and expressive gestures, reflecting a deep belief in spontaneity and intuition.
His canvases are represented in major collections, including the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and the National Gallery of Canada.
This is considered the definitive modern study of Gauvreau, situating his work in the context of the Automatistes, the Refus Global, and Quebec’s cultural evolution. It is the most comprehensive and scholarly source available.
Historical and Contemporary Gallery located in Toronto at 33 Hazelton Ave.
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